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It’s Houston

The Lakers learned the identity of their second-opponent tonight, and it’s the Houston Rockets, who defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 92-76, in Game 6 and took the series, 4-2. Ron Artest scored 27 points and Yao Ming had 17 points and 10 rebounds to help the Rockets win a playoff series for the first time since 1997. Both will be key figures in the next round for the Rockets. The Lakers beat the Rockets, 4-0, in the regular season.

Here’s the schedule (times are PDT):

Game 1, Monday at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., TNT.
Game 2, Wednesday at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., TNT.
Game 3, May 8 at Houston, 6:30 p.m., ESPN.
Game 4, May 10 at Houston, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.
Game 5, if necessary, May 12 at Staples Center, TBA, TNT.
Game 6, if necessary, May 14 at Houston, TBA, ESPN.
Game 7, if necessary, May 16 at Staples Center, TBA, TBA.

This is the perfect opportunity for the bench to reestablish themselves as the best second unit in the league. We need them to get the continuity and cohesiveness working in their favor again. I look to the Bench Mob, led by Lamar Odom, to really dominate in this series, providing the starters with ample time to rest and make sure that they are ready for any 4th quarter pushes to close out the game.

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